Why "Pjatyrochki" lacks staff: the real reasons everyone is silent about - you won't hear this at the interview

      AI Photo prodzer.ru

      Labor market crisis in retail, causes and possible solutions

      The Russian labor market is experiencing an unprecedented labor shortage: the number of resumes nearly matches the number of open vacancies. This problem is especially pronounced in retail, where annual demand for employees grows by about 30%. The reason for this is the aggressive expansion of retail chains in previous years, when new stores opened often with incomplete staff due to a lack of candidates.

      According to customers and former employees of retail chains, the key causes of the labor crisis are low wage competitiveness and difficult working conditions. Despite some wage increases in retail, they often fall short of offers in other sectors, such as manufacturing, logistics, or courier services. Job seekers capable of earning more on a factory or warehouse have a clear advantage. Working conditions also attract criticism: 12-hour shifts, short breaks, constant pressure, and shouting from management are common. One former employee compared working in a chain to "a squeezing machine." A former deputy manager of one store, due to standard working hours and the possibility to spend evenings at home, changed fields and started working as a "Gazel" driver, despite the lower status of the new job, and received a higher salary.

      In the current situation, where many stores, including Pyaterochka, maintain order and fully stock shelves, the enormous burden on remaining staff becomes obvious. This opinion is expressed on the Yandex-Dzen channel "Krizistan," which specializes in analyzing economic and social trends. It indicates that existing employees are working at the limits of their capabilities, which could lead to burnout and further exacerbate the shortage.

      Among potential solutions to the current problem, market participants and ordinary people propose the following measures:

      Network Optimization: closing excess stores in oversaturated or low-traffic areas will allow redistribution of staff to more profitable outlets. This will free up personnel and increase overall efficiency.

      Attracting Alternative Workforce: actively searching for employees among students, self-employed individuals, moms on maternity leave, and retirees. They can work part-time (10-12 hours per week), which can become the first work experience for students, especially during the summer.

      Improving Conditions: to attract workers from other sectors, it is necessary to establish competitive wages exceeding courier earnings after expenses. Respectful treatment of employees, compliance with labor laws, and reasonable workloads are also essential.

      Technology Implementation: maximally utilizing self-service checkout stations will help compensate for the shortage of cashiers. One such checkout can replace two shift workers.

      Internal Network Support: forming mobile brigades within the chain to assist staff of different stores during peak periods, such as receiving goods or stocking shelves. This requires well-planned logistics but significantly eases the work of permanent staff.

      Today, the labor market situation has changed: employers are forced to compete for each worker. As one reader notes, the days when employees tolerated any conditions for the sake of only a salary are gone. Retail chains that focus on exploitative labor practices will need to either radically transform their policies toward respect, decent pay, and good working conditions or be replaced by more competitive players. The market itself will not lack options, but its structure and rules of the game are changing.